Md. teacher who penned shooting books on leave

CAMBRIDGE, Md. (AP) — A Maryland middle school teacher who wrote two futuristic books about a school shooting has been placed on leave and taken in for a mental health evaluation.

But a county prosecutor says the teacher, 23-year-old Patrick McLaw, didn’t draw scrutiny because of the books that were self-published in 2011 and 2013.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello tells The Star Democrat (http://bit.ly/1xaiYai ) Tuesday that concerns about a letter that McLaw wrote led officials to seek an emergency evaluation of the language arts teacher at Mace’s Lane Middle School in Cambridge. Maciarello described the four-page note as a resignation and farewell letter.

McLaw was placed on leave on Aug. 22.

McLaw has not been arrested and no charges have been filed. His attorney, David Moore, didn’t respond to requests for comment.

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